Women’s suffrage (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
Women's suffrage
Background to the campaign
The fight for women's voting rights developed gradually over more than a century. Although there had been discussions about women having the vote since the late 1700s, and despite major extensions of voting rights to men throughout the 19th century, women remained excluded from parliamentary elections as the 20th century began. This exclusion sparked an organised campaign that would eventually grow into a powerful movement.
The campaign for women's suffrage was a long process that spanned over 100 years, demonstrating the persistence and dedication required to achieve social change.
Those who campaigned for women's voting rights became known as suffragists. The movement gained momentum as it became clear that traditional methods of political persuasion were not working effectively.
Early development of the suffrage movement
Key pioneers and their contributions
The campaign for women's suffrage had several important early advocates who laid the groundwork for later organised efforts:
Mary Wollstonecraft (1792) wrote 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women', which called for women to be granted equal rights, including the right to vote. This work established many of the philosophical foundations for later suffrage arguments.
Henry Hunt (1832) attempted to change the political system when he tried to amend the 1832 Reform Act. He wanted to change the word 'male' to 'adult' in the legislation, but this proposal failed because the bill was rewritten to specifically exclude women from voting rights.
John Stuart Mill (1867), a Liberal MP and philosopher who strongly supported liberty and equality, tried to introduce voting rights for women into Parliament. Despite his influential position and compelling arguments, his efforts were unsuccessful.
From 1870 to 1884, supporters introduced motions supporting women's suffrage every year in Parliament, but all of these attempts were rejected by MPs. This consistent rejection demonstrated the need for new approaches to the campaign.
Millicent Fawcett and the NUWSS
Millicent Fawcett (1837-1929) became a central figure in the women's rights movement during the late 19th century. Her intelligence and impressive organisational skills led to her election as president of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) in 1890.
NUWSS strategy and approach
The NUWSS developed a specific approach to campaigning that set it apart from other political movements. The organisation insisted that the only way to successfully campaign for voting rights was to follow legal methods. This meant working within the existing political system rather than challenging it directly.
The NUWSS deliberately adopted a non-partisan approach, refusing to align with either the Conservative or Liberal parties. While this maintained their independence, it also meant neither major party felt pressured to support women's suffrage to gain electoral advantage.
Members of the NUWSS engaged in various activities to promote their cause:
- Asking questions at political meetings to raise awareness
- Requesting sympathetic MPs to bring up the issue in Parliament
- Distributing leaflets and pamphlets to educate the public
- Organising meetings and peaceful marches
The NUWSS deliberately tried to avoid taking sides with any particular political party. This non-partisan approach created challenges because neither the Conservative nor Liberal parties could rely on women's votes to benefit them or harm their opposition. As a result, both major parties remained cautious about supporting women's suffrage.
Arguments supporting women's suffrage
Suffragists developed three main categories of arguments to support their cause:
Equality arguments
Supporters argued that women possessed the same intelligence and work ethic as men, and therefore deserved equal political rights. They pointed out that denying women the vote simply because of their gender was unfair when women could demonstrate the same capabilities as male voters.
The suffragists also argued that giving women the vote represented an important first step towards achieving broader equality. They believed political rights would enable women to campaign more effectively for other improvements to their status in society.
Representation arguments
This argument focused on the principle that Parliament should reflect the wishes of all people it governed. Since women made up approximately half the population, suffragists argued it was undemocratic for them to have no voice in making laws.
Women were particularly affected by laws concerning children and family life, yet they had no say in creating these laws. The suffragists argued that this situation was both unfair and impractical, as women's experiences and perspectives were essential for creating effective legislation.
Democracy arguments
Suffragists emphasised that every citizen who had to obey laws should have a voice in making them. Since women were subject to the same laws as men, they argued it was fundamentally undemocratic to exclude them from the political process.
They also pointed out that giving women the vote would increase public involvement in important political issues, which would strengthen democracy overall.
Strategic Argument: The Caring Mother Appeal
The NUWSS particularly emphasised arguments that portrayed women as caring mothers and responsible citizens. They argued that women should be consulted about laws affecting homes and children, and that public-minded mothers would naturally become public-minded citizens with voting rights.
This approach was designed to reassure opponents that women's suffrage would not threaten traditional family values.
Opposition to women's suffrage
Not everyone supported extending voting rights to women. The opposition came from various sources and used several key arguments:
Prominent opponents
Even some notable women opposed suffrage, including Queen Victoria, Octavia Hill, and Florence Nightingale. Organisations like the Mothers' Union also actively campaigned against giving women the vote.
Main opposition arguments
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't assume all women supported suffrage. Many prominent women actively opposed it, believing it would disrupt society's natural order.
Separate spheres ideology: This popular belief held that men belonged in public life while women belonged in the private or domestic sphere of the home. Opponents argued that this division was natural and beneficial for society.
Emotional instability: Some people claimed that women were too emotional to make rational political decisions, suggesting they would vote based on feelings rather than logical analysis of issues.
Military service: Opponents argued that since women could not fight in wars, they should not have the right to vote on matters that might lead to military conflict.
Timeline of key events
- 1792: Mary Wollstonecraft publishes 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women'
- 1832: Henry Hunt attempts to amend the Reform Act to include women
- 1867: John Stuart Mill tries to introduce women's voting rights in Parliament
- 1870-1884: Annual motions supporting women's suffrage introduced but rejected
- 1890: Millicent Fawcett becomes president of the NUWSS
Key Points to Remember:
- The campaign for women's voting rights developed gradually from the late 18th century, with key early advocates like Mary Wollstonecraft (1792) and Henry Hunt (1832)
- Millicent Fawcett led the NUWSS from 1890, focusing on legal methods and non-partisan approaches to gain political support
- Suffragists used three main arguments: equality (women as intelligent as men), representation (half the population deserved a voice), and democracy (those who obey laws should help make them)
- Opposition came from the separate spheres ideology, claims about women's emotional nature, and arguments about military service
- Despite decades of peaceful campaigning and logical arguments, the NUWSS struggled to achieve success through legal methods alone